Blitz Picks October 16/17
It’s been a busy week trying to keep track of all the games that have been cancelled or shuffled around, and hopefully this list will end up being correct and no more games will bite the dust as many Big Country teams continue district play.
I may have mentioned I had a good week picking last week.
Once or twice.
I should probably retire after hitting 26 of 27, and getting the season picking percentage over 80%, but here goes nothing…
Week 7: 26 for 27 (96.3%)
Week 6: 20 for 25 (80.0%)
Week 5: 21 for 28 (75.0 %)
Week 4: 22 for 26 (84.6%)
Week 3: 22 for 29 (75.9%)
Week 2: 22 for 30 (73.3%)
Week 1: 25 for 30 (83.3%)
Season: 158 for 195 (81.0%)
Cancelled: Palo Duro vs Wylie; Brownwood vs La Vega; TLCA San Angelo vs Clyde; Cross Plains vs Meridian; Highland vs Sterling City; Trent vs Olfen (forfeit win for Trent)
Abilene High (0-2) at San Angelo Central (0-3)
District play is underway in the Little Southwest Conference, and it starts with a bang. Permian/Lee and this, the 96th meeting between Abilene High and San Angelo Central. Both squads went winless in non-district play, but both played a pretty tough schedule as the combined record of their opponents is 9-3. The Warbirds had an extra week to get ready while the Bobcats are coming off a long road trip and a 40-35 loss at A&M Consolidated. (Side note nobody here cares about: A&M Consolidated’s victory gave their head coach Lee Fedora 200 career victories. I covered his Navasota (two state championships teams) and Consol teams on a regular basis in my time in TV in Bryan/College Station. Congrats on getting number 200 Coach!)
The pick: Abilene High
Justin Northwest (2-1) at Cooper (1-1)
Time for 3-5A Division I play to begin for the Cooper Cougars, who got a bonus bye week thanks to COVID cases for Wylie last week. Cooper beat Abilene High their last time out, without Noah Garcia, and hope to get their district title quest started with a win.
The pick: Cooper
Sweetwater (5-1, 2-0) at Pecos (2-2, 0-1)
The Mustangs knocked off preseason district favorite Greenwood in overtime last week, now they hit the road to battle Pecos. Sweetwater has won five in a row after a season opening home loss to Stephenville, while Pecos lost to Greenwood 39-10 in their first district ballgame.
The pick: Sweetwater
#9 3A D1 Wall (4-2, 1-0) at #10 3A D1 Jim Ned (4-1, 1-0)
We have one of the best games in the entire state in our backyard Friday night as Jim Ned hosts Wall in a game that could decide the District 3-3A Division I championship. The Hawks won a close 14-7 battle with the Indians a year ago, and beat them 41-27 the year before that. Wall won their district opener last week 72-0 over an overmatched TLCA San Angelo squad, while the Indians outlasted Early 46-14. Jim Ned has won four straight to vault into the state rankings. They could make a bigger jump and, more importantly, have the inside track on their first district championship since Colt McCoy’s final season in 2004.
The pick: Jim Ned
Early (3-3, 0-1) at Breckenridge (0-5, 0-1)
The Buckaroos fell to Clyde 38-21 last week as they are still in search of win number one for head coach Casey Pearce. Breckenridge did put their highest point total of the season on the board, but also gave up more points in a game than they had all year. Early ran into high powered Jim Ned to see their two-game winning streak snapped. This is a key ballgame for playoff seeding, as the loser may end up as one of the two teams from 3-3A Division I that does not reach the postseason.
The pick: Breckenridge
Ballinger (6-1, 1-0) at Grape Creek (1-5, 0-1)
Ballinger picked up a pair of wins last week (as weird as that sounds) in a forfeit district victory over Brady and 46-12 win over Sunray in a game they picked up. They actually play their first district game at struggling Grape Creek, who is coming off a 62-0 loss to Bangs.
The pick: Ballinger
Ingram Moore (5-1, 0-1) at Bangs (5-0, 1-0)
The Dragons roll into their first home district contest in a game that, record-wise, may be a good one. However, the Warriors suffered their first loss of the season last week when they fell to Sonora, and will be heavy underdogs against the Dragons.
The pick: Bangs
Eastland (3-3, 1-0) at Comanche (6-0, 1-0)
Another great matchup here, and the part I’m most intrigued by is the Eastland offense against the Comanche defense. The Mavericks have won three in a row and have scored 78, 91 and 50, while the Indians have only given up 33 points all year. What will give? I lean toward the Indian defense faltering, at least a little bit, against Behren Morton and the Maverick offense that is clicking on all cylinders.
The pick: Eastland
Millsap (4-2, 0-1) at Merkel (2-3, 0-1)
Elsewhere in District 5-3A Division II Merkel hopes to snap a three-game losing streak as the Badgers host Millsap. Millsap suffered a 50-23 setback to Eastland last week, while Merkel dropped a 30-13 decision to Jacksboro. The Badgers need to get this one if they have any hopes of reaching the postseason.
The pick: Millsap
Stamford (3-3, 0-1) at Hawley (4-2, 1-0)
This is a big Jones County battle as the Bearcats look for a second district win while the Bulldogs hope to get their first 3-2A Division I victory. Stamford is coming off a tough loss to Anson, while Hawley took care of Haskell 48-22.
The pick: Hawley
Anson (4-1, 1-0) at Forsan (3-2, 1-0)
The Tigers hit the road west in a game featuring two of the three remaining unbeaten teams in 3-2A Division I. Anson brought their offensive “A-game” again last week, putting 41 points on the board against Stamford. Forsan beat Colorado City 43-6 and has now won three straight after dropping the first two games of the season to Coahoma and Post.
The pick: Anson
Haskell (1-4, 0-1) at Colorado City (0-6, 0-1)
This could end up being a key game as far as postseason positioning goes as the Indians and Wolves look to stay in the playoff chase. Colorado City has been held under ten points in five of their six games this season, but may have a chance for an offensive breakthrough against an Indian defense that has given up 48 and 43 points their last two times out.
The pick: Haskell
#10 2A D1 Cisco (3-3, 1-0) at De Leon (1-5, 0-1)
The Loboes doubled up Winters to open district play, now they head to De Leon to face a struggling Bearcat squad. De Leon was shut out 35-0 at Coleman last week.
The pick: Cisco
Goldthwaite (2-4, 0-1) at Coleman (5-1, 1-0)
The Bluecats can run their winning streak to five if they can take care of business at home against Goldthwaite Friday night. The Eagles lost big to rival San Saba last week, and will be looking for redemption this week at Coleman.
The pick: Coleman
#6 2A D1 San Saba (4-1, 1-0) at Winters (1-5, 0-1)
Another week, another tough matchup for the Blizzards. Winters battled hard in a 28-14 loss to Cisco last week, now they get set to host the sixth-ranked Armadillos, who crushed Goldthwaite last week 64-6. Winters is clearly in the “better than their record might indicate” category, but do they have enough to pull off the upset against San Saba?
The pick: San Saba
Roscoe (0-6, 0-0) at #2 2A Division II Hamlin (6-0, 1-0)
District 5-2A Division II has gone through the ringer as far as COVID goes this week, and many games have been shuffled around, including this one. Hamlin and Roscoe’s game moves up three weeks because Crosbyton, Lockney and Ralls have to take the week off due to positive tests. The winless Plowboys are in a tough spot in this one. Their last action was a 32-6 loss to Seagraves two weeks ago.
The pick: Hamlin
Ranger (0-6, 0-2) at #7 2A D2 Albany (5-1, 2-0)
The Lions have not allowed a point yet in district play, and have a chance to make it three straight shut outs in district, and four straight overall, against winless Ranger.
The pick: Albany
Ira (5-2, 1-0) at Rotan (6-0, 0-0)
The unbeaten Yellowhammers will face their biggest test so far as they welcome Ira to town for a District 7-1A Division I showdown. Rotan looks to knock the king off of his throne, while the Bulldogs hope to stay on top after slipping past Roby last week.
The pick: Ira
Hermleigh (7-0, 1-0) at Roby (4-3, 0-1)
Roby battled Ira closely in a 24-14 loss last week, now we see if they can tackle undefeated Hermleigh. The Cardinals took care of Aspermont 71-42 in their district opener and look to get to 8-0 with a win against the Lions.
The pick: Hermleigh
Santa Anna (5-2, 0-1) at #5 1A D1 May (6-1, 1-0)
The Tigers welcome a much improved Mountaineer team to town in both teams second district outing. Baird beat Santa Anna 66-16 a week ago in the Mountaineers first game against a 1A Division I team this season, while May had no problem beating Gorman 49-0. The Tigers have recorded three shut outs in their last four games.
The pick: May
Fort Worth Covenant Classical (0-3) at Baird (3-3, 1-0)
The Bears step out of district action to host a winless, but still dangerous, Covenant Classical team Friday night. The Cavaliers have three losses, but all are against UIL ranked teams in #2 Richland Springs (61-16), #9 Strawn (88-70) and #7 Union Hill (92-46).
The pick: Covenant Classical
Woodson (0-4, 0-0) at Moran (0-7, 0-0)
The Cowboys and Bulldogs begin District 9-1A Division II play, and the winner gets not only a district win, but their first victory of the season. Woodson has not seen action since a 52-6 September 25 loss to Rule. Moran lost to Rule last week 46-0.
The pick: Woodson
Rising Star (3-4, 0-1) at Sidney (4-2, 1-0)
The Wildcats hope to bounce back after a tough district opening loss to Blanket, 60-14, while Sidney looks to build on a 69-0 victory over Panther Creek. Rising Star needs a win to stay in the playoff mix, especially with Brookesmith up next on the schedule.
The pick: Sidney
Lubbock All Saints (1-1) at Abilene Christian (2-0) – Saturday
The Panthers return to the field Saturday after a bye week to host Lubbock All Saints at Shotwell Stadium. All Saints lost 54-44 to Wichita Falls Wichita Christian last week. ACS won 44-32 at Lubbock Kingdom Prep two weeks ago.
The pick: Abilene Christian
